Ottawa defeated Bethel College on Thursday night 57-51. OU shot 36.2 percent from the floor, 11.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72.2 percent from the free throw line. The Braves had three players in double figures. Nicole Brown finished with a double-double, 23 points and 16 rebounds. She also had seven blocked shots which is tied for fourth in the OU record book.

As a team, the Braves finished the game against Bethel with nine blocked shots. That mark is tied for fourth in the OU record book in single game blocked shots.

Ottawa is just one win away from equaling its win total from last season. The Braves are 7-3 this year. Last year, OU finished the season with a record of 8-21.

The Braves are 2-2 in road games this season and 1-1 in KCAC play away from Wilson Field House. Ottawa is averaging 69.4 points and shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.9 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are scoring 63.6 points per game and shooting 34.9 percent from the floor, 29.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 73.5 percent from the free throw line.

In KCAC games this season, Ottawa is outscoring opponents 68 to 54 and holding opponents to 29.8 percent shooting from the floor. OU has also made 120 trips to the free throw line compared to the opponents 74.

Through 10 games this season, OU is averaging 72.8 points, 44.3 rebounds, and 12.5 assists per game. The Braves are shooting 44 percent from the floor, 32.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 75.7 percent from the free throw line.

OU is ranked 22nd in the NAIA in total points scored (728), 43rd in field goal percentage (.440), 35th in free throws made per game (15.3), 17th in free throw percentage (.757), eighth in defensive rebounds per game (33.2), 33rd in total rebounds per game (44.3), 47th in rebound margin per game (7), 44th in blocks per game (3.4), 34th in personal fouls per game (14.7), 36th in opponents points per game (57.5), fifth in opponents field goal percentage (.314), and 32nd in opponents 3-pt field goal percentage (.240).

Nicole Brown leads the Braves in scoring (15.7), rebounding (12.1), and blocks (2). Ahoneste Walker is OU's leader in assists (2.3) per game and Cierra Brown leads the team in steals (1.1) per game.

Saturday is the 93rd meeting between Ottawa University and Friends University. The Falcons lead the series, 69-23 and are on a four game winning streak against the Braves. OU has lost six straight road games to Friends. The last time Ottawa defeated the Falcons at the Garvey Center was on Feb. 27, 2016 in the KCAC Tournament. The first meeting between the two teams happened on Feb. 10, 1909 in Wichita. Ottawa won the game 30-21.

Ottawa has lost 16 straight regular season games in Wichita versus Friends. OU's last regular season victory over the Falcons was on Jan. 25, 2007. OU won the game 64-56.

Friends won both meetings last season, defeating OU 65-47 at the Garvey Center on Dec. 8 and 76-64 in Wilson Field House on Feb. 1.

Friends University is 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the KCAC. The Falcons have won two straight and are 5-0 in the Garvey Center this season.

The Falcons enter Saturday's game coming off a 48-43 victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan on Thursday night in Bartlesville. Friends held OKWU to five points in the first quarter and eight in the fourth to take the 48-43 victory.

In the win, Friends shot 46.3 percent from the floor, 16.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 60 percent from the free throw line. Taylor Jackson led the Falcons with 17 points. Rayland Garner came off the bench to score 10.

Through nine games, Friends is averaging 67 points, 38.6 rebounds, and 12.7 assists per game. They are shooting 42.3 percent from the floor, 29.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 67.9 percent from the free throw line.

The Falcons are ranked 30th in the NAIA in free throws made per game (15.8), 25th in free throws attempted per game (23.2), 36th in blocks per game (3.6), 35th in personal fouls per game (14.8), 45th in points per game allowed (58.4), and 28th in opponents field goal percentage (.341).

Rayland Garner leads Friends in scoring (16.1), Taylor Jackson is the team's leader in rebounding (8), Bridget Busbee leads the Falcons in assists per game (2.7), Jackson is the Falcons' leader in blocks (3.2) per game, and Gracie Sammons is the team's leader in steals per game (2).